NASCAR cars can reach top speeds of approximately 200 to 213 mph (321 to 343 km/h) on superspeedways like Daytona and Talladega, with the official fastest recorded speed being 212.8 mph set by Bill Elliott in 1987 at Talladega
. The average race speed varies by track type:
- Half-mile ovals: average around 82 mph, top lap speed about 100 mph
- 1-mile ovals: average around 137 mph, top lap speed about 167 mph
- Superspeedways: average around 188 mph, top lap speed about 213 mph
- Road courses: average around 70 mph, top lap speed about 93 mph
- Dirt tracks: average around 46 mph, top lap speed about 90 mph
In straight-line speed tests outside official races, NASCAR cars have reached up to 271 mph on the Utah salt flats, showcasing their potential beyond race conditions
. While NASCAR cars are extremely fast, they are generally slower than Formula 1 cars, which can exceed 230 mph, and IndyCars, which also reach higher top speeds on ovals
